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Medical  Mission  5671657 


HOSPITALS  IN  PERSIA. 


New  Hospital,  Hamadan. 


The  Woman’s  Foreign  Mlssionarg  Society 

Of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 

SOI  Witherspoon  Building,  Philadelphia. 

1907 


Hospitals  in  Persia. 


N Persia,  as  in  other  Moslem  lands,  there  is  noth- 
ing so  effective  in  reaching  the  people  as  medical 
work.  Direct  teaching  is  difficult  and  often 
dangerous,  but  the  physician  has  no  trouble  in 
gaining  access  to  homes  and  hearts.  Persians 
have  a great  reverence  for  physicians,  and  an 
elaborate  medical  system  of  their  own,  based 
largely  upon  the  old  Arabic  practice.  Their 
great  remedy  is  bleeding,  which  is  practiced  to  an 
injurious  extent  in  almost  every  sort  of  ailment. 

The  need  for  medical  women  is  especially  serious.  Women 
of  the  upper  classes  are  closely  secluded,  and  it  is  only  in 
extreme  cases  that  a medical  man  is  allowed  to  visit  them. 
Among  the  masses,  sanitary  conditions  are  frightful,  and  the 
ignorance  and  superstition  of  the  people  are  almost  beyond 
belief. 

The  Persian  Mission  has  been  especially  favored  in  its 
succession  of  able  i^hysicians,  who  have  done  more  toward  its 
success  than  all  other  instrumentalities  combined.  Dr.  Asahel 
Grant,  one  of  the  earliest  missionaries  to  the  Nestorians  (1835), 
was  called  at  once  to  visit  numerous  Moslem  patients.  Within 
a week  after  his  arrival  he  was  able  to  relieve  the  sufferings  of 
the  governor,  who  showed  his  gratitude  by  giving  him  the 
valuable  property  still  occupied  by  the  mission  at  Urumia. 


In  1871  the  Persian  Mission  was  transferred  from  the 
American  Board  to  tlie  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 
From  1878  to  1905  the  medical  work  at  Urumia  was  in  the 
hands  of  Dr.  John  P.  Cochran,  whose  distinguished  career  is 
familiar  to  all.  Born  on  the  mission  field,  and  uniquely 
equipped  for  his  work  by  training  and  character,  he  was  re- 
nowned through  all  Western  Persia,  and  wielded  immense 
influence  over  the  wild  Kurdish  chiefs.  His  death  in  1905 
seemed  an  irreparable  loss.  He  has  been  succeeded  by  Dr. 
Harry  P.  Packard,  formerly  of  Denver,  Colorado. 

The  Westminster  Hospital  was  built  in  1880,  and  classes  of 
young  men  began  to  be  regularly  trained.  The  Howard 
.\nnex,  for  women,  was  added  ten  years  later,  with  a dispen- 
sary for  women,  both  in  charge  of  Dr.  Emma  T.  Miller.  The 
majoritj’  of  hospital  patients  are  Christians.  IVIoslems  will 
come  to  the  dispensary  or  see  the  physician  in  their  homes, 
but  most  of  them  feel  that  their  chance  of  Paradise  is  forfeited 
by  sleeping  under  a Christian  roof  and  eating  Christian  food. 
During  the  recent  border  wars  between  Turkey  and  Persia  a 
number  of  the  wounded  Persian  soldiers  were  brought  to  the 
hospital  and  cared  for  by  Dr.  Packard. 

When  the  station  at  Tabriz  was  oi)ened  (1873)  it  was  again 
the  medical  work  that  won  the  favor  of  the  authorities.  The 
late  Shah,  then  the  Crown  Prince,  resident  at  Tabriz,  i)laced 
such  confidence  in  the  skill  of  Dr.  G.  W.  Holmes  that  he 
wished  to  appoint  him  court  physician.  Dr.  W.  S.  Vanneman, 
now  in  charge,  has  a large  dispensary  and  private  practice, 
entirely  self-supporting.  He  reports; 

" This  city  has  200,000  population,  with  only  two  or  three  European  trained 
physicians.  We  have  more  calls  to  homes  than  we  can  answer,  and  our  dispen- 
sary must  he  open  every  day.  We  see  the  patients  one  by  one  in  a private  room, 
and  thus  have  opportunity  for  religious  conversation  with  them.  We  have 
Europeans,  Moslems,  Armenians  and  Nestorians— governors,  mayors,  Moslem 

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priests,  noblemen,  dervishes  and  lepers— the  richest  and  the  poorest.  Diseases 
of  every  kind  come  to  the  dispensary,  including  whooping-cough,  measles, 
scarlet  fever,  diphtheria  and  small-pox.  The  medical  missionary  has  to  cover 
the  whole  field  of  medicine.” 


Several  rooms  have  been  added  to  the  men’s  dispensarj’, 
so  that  a few  in-patients  can  be  cared  for.  An  additional  phy- 
sician is  urgently  needed.  An  Armenian  evangelist,  who 
spends  his  morilings  at  the  dispensaiy,  read  and  talked  with 
1,300  men  in  twenty-six  days. 

When  the  Rev.  Dr.  Whipple  left  Tabriz,  he  gave  his 
home  to  the  mission  as  a hospital  for  women  and  children. 
This  was  opened  in  1899,  under  the  charge  of  Dr.  Mary  Brad- 
ford. It  is  now  temporarily  closed,  during  her  absence  in 
America  on  account  of  her  mother’s  health.  The  ladies  of  the 
station  visit  constantly  among  the  sick,  and  in  a leper  village 
near  by. 

The  medical  work  in  Teheran  was  inaugurated  by  Dr.  W. 
W.  Torrence  in  1881.  Teheran  is  a beautiful  and  growing  city, 
and  there  is  less  prejudice  against  foreigners  than  elsewhere. 
Land  for  the  hospital  was  presented  by  the  Prime  Minister, 
whom  Dr.  Torrence  had  cured  of  long-standing  disease.  It  is 
in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  city,  about  two  miles  from  the 
Central  Mission  Compound.  The  hospital  was  built  in  1892, 
and  enlarged  in  1895  by  gifts  from  citizens  of  Teheran.  In 
1893  a new  dispensary  was  added,  and  during  the  cholera  epi- 
demic of  that  year  more  than  2,000  patients  were  treated. 
Dr.  Mary  Smith  has  charge  of  the  women’s  dispensary  and 
practices  among  women  of  the  better  class  in  their  homes. 
There  was  no  proper  accommodation  for  women  in  the  hospital 
and  their  coming  there  had  been  discouraged. 


“ Last  year,  however,”  says  Dr.  Wishard,  “ the  wife  of  a high  court  official 
was  admitted,  upon  the  insistent  demand  of  her  husband,  for  surgical  treat- 


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ment.  The  Shah  took  an  interest  in  the  case,  and  had  daily  reports  of  her 
condition.  By  God's  blessing,  her  health  was  fully  restored.  After  this  we 
were  compelled  to  take  several  other  cases  and  do  the  best  we  could  for  them. 
One  day  I had  just  finished  a most  serious  operation  for  tumor  on  a poor  woman, 
the  mother  of  three  children,  when  I was  summoned  to  the  mother  of  a noble- 
man near  by.  I went  reluctantly.  After  I had  prescribed  for  her,  she  inquired 
about  matters  at  the  hospital,  and  I frankly  told  her  our  difficulties,  and  the 
great  need  for  a woman’s  ward.  She  at  once  said  that  if  it  was  God's  will,  she 
would  be  glad  to  build  award  for  women  and  children.  ‘Send  me  the  plans,’ 
she  said,  ‘ and  if  I am  able,  I will  supply  the  funds.’  It  seemed  strange  to  me 
that  this  Moslem  lady,  reared  in  seclusion,  should  have  the  blessing  of  giving  the 
first  hospital  for  women  in  Teheran. 

“ Did  she  supply  the  funds  ? Well,  you  would  have  thought  so,  if  you  had 
seen  her  servants  coming  in  with  the  first  thousand  dollars,  all  in  small  coins. 
It  seemed  to  me  that  I should  never  get  it  counted.  To-day  we  have  a neat, 
modern  hospital  for  women  and  children,  and  we  hope  to  dedicate  it  in  October 
finished  and  free  from  debt. 

“There  is  a cosy  little  home  in  connection  with  it  for  the  trained  nurse 
whom  our  faith  tells  us  that  we  are  going  to  have.” 

The  nurse,  Miss  Flora  M.  Bradford,  has  since  been  sent. 

Hamadan,  the  second  centre  of  the  East  Persian  Mission, 
is  supposed  to  occupy  the  site  of  the  ancient  Ecbatana.  Br. 
G.  W.  Holmes  spent  nine  years  here,  and  through  his  itiner- 
ating tours  and  extensive  practice  gained  great  fame  through- 
out all  the  region,  so  that  his  name  is  still  synonymous  with 
“American  Doctor”  among  the  people.  The  many  Persian 
students  whom  he  trained  are  his  best  memorial.  A new  hos- 
pital, “The  Lillie  Reed  Holt  Memorial,”  is  nearly  ready  for 
use.  The  grounds  cover  about  eight  acres  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  city,  thus  securing  quiet  and  a good  water  supply.  It  is 
the  only  hospital  between  Teheran  and  Baghdad,  nearly  five 
hundred  miles,  and  its  field  will  embrace  all  Southwestern 
Persia. 

Dr.  Funk  reports : 

“ The  work  in  Hamadan  has  been  that  of  hospital,  dispensary,  and  visiting 
patients  in  their  homes.  Through  these  means  the  reputation  and  influence  of 

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the  physicians  of  the  station  have  been  considerably  extended.  One  patient,  a 
Moliah,  on  whom  we  operated  for  mastoid  disease,  never  ceases  to  praise  us  and 
our  work  to  all  his  friends  and  acquaintances.  During  the  winter  and  spring 
our  ten  hospital  beds  have  been  in  constant  use,  and  more  than  once  patients 
have  had  to  be  put  off  for  lack  of  room.  The  new  hospital  will  be  most  welcome. 
Six  medical  students  are  under  instruction.” 

Much  time  is  spent  by  Mrs.  Blanche  Wilson  Stead,  M.  I)., 
and  the  other  ladies  of  Hainadan  Station  in  tours  among  the 
surrounding  villages.  Mrs.  Stead  says  : 

“ During  the  cool  weather  the  whole  day  is  spent  attending  to  the  sick, 
preaching  to  the  crowds,  or  teaching  the  one  or  two  who  are  interested  enough 
to  stay  and  listen.  When  we  reach  a village,  we  send  the  native  helper  through 
the  streets  with  an  armful  of  Scripture  portions  and  tracts  to  announce  that  all 
who  will  may  come  and  hear  God’s  word  and  get  medicine.  The  first  patients 
that  come  are  attended  to  at  once.  When  the  company  has  increased,  we  spend 
half  an  hour  or  more  in  reading  and  explaining  passages  of  Scripture.  If  there 
is  any  disorder,  the  sick  ones  are  seen  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  all  sent  away 
but  those  who  care  to  listen.  Mr.  Stead  and  his  helper  not  only  give  medicine 
and  advice  to  the  men  who  need  it,  but  fill  the  prescriptions  for  the  women  also, 
unless  the  crowd  is  too  great.  No  record  has  been  kept  of  the  number  receiving 
medicine,  but  for  women  alone  about  .3000  prescriptions  were  written.” 

Dr.  Clara  Field,  who  went  out  in  190G,  has  already  acquired 
a reputation  for  surgical  work  among  the  women.  In  her  first 
year’s  report,  she  says  : 

“ The  month  following  my  arrival  I assumed  a share  of  the  work  with  the 
two  medical  classes,  teaching  three  hours  a week.  In  the  spring  I went  to  Ker- 
manshah  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawkes.  The  sick  were  brought  to  us  at  all  our  stop- 
ping-places. We  staid  thirteen  days  in  the  city,  holding  clinics  in  the  Mission 
House,  besides  visiting  many  patients.  The  Governor  sent  for  me  to  attend  his 
wife,  and  f had  a consultation  with  her  physicians,  a Turk,  a Jew,  and  a Persian. 
One  of  these  spoke  only  French,  one  only  Persian,  the  other  Persian  and  French, 
and  I little  but  English.  The  situation  was  amusing,  in  spite  of  the  occasion. 

“ My  work  so  far  has  largely  been  as  consultant  to  the  Persian  physicians 
trained  by  former  missionaries,  who  are  doing  commendable  work,  both  medical 
and  evangelistic.  For  their  women  patients  I have  done  much  that  a man  would 
not  be  permitted  to  do.  We  are  most  thankful  th.at  a young  Armenian  woman 


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has  decided  to  study  medicine.  She  is  a bright,  capable  girl,  and  has  taught  for 
some  time  in  the  Faith  Hubbard  School.  She  began  her  course  in  nursing  this 
summer.  ” 

One  poor  woman  who  had  suffered  for  months  was  in  sucli 
a hopeless  condition  that  her  friends  turned  her  face  towards 
Mecca  and  sat  waiting  to  see  her  die.  As  a last  resort,  some 
one  su^ested  sending  for  the  Hakim  Khanum  (lady  doctor). 
By  God’s  blessing,  she  was  entirely  restored,  and  came,  full  of 
gratitude,  to  return  thanks.  When  her  relatives  were  asked, 
“ Why  did  you  wait  so  long?”  they  replied : “We  had  been 
taught  to  fear  your  medicine  ; but  after  this,  we  shall  always 
come  to  you.’’ 

Resht  is  an  important  town  on  the  Caspian  Sea,  where  the 
work  is  comparatively  new.  Dr.  J.  D.  Frame  took  charge  of  the 
new  Government  Hospital  here  for  three  months,  at  the  request 
of  the  Governor,  with  the  understanding  that  the  arrangement 
was  to  continue  for  five  years ; but  political  influence  finally  put 
an  end  to  the  negotiations.  Dr.  Frame  has  a dispensary,  and 
itinerates  widely. 

At  Kasvin,  half  way  between  Teheran  and  Resht,  the  old 
dispensary  has  been  fitted  up  for  the  use  of  Doctor  and  Mrs. 
Lawrence  (Dr.  .Jessie  Wilson).  Mrs.  I^awrence  spent  much 
time  in  Kasvin  before  her  marriage.  In  addition  to  her  school 
and  visiting  work,  she  holds  a religious  meeting  every  week  for 
the  dispensary  patients.  Dr.  Lawrence  writes  : 

“ Many  Armenians  come  to  tlie  dispensary,  and  send  for  me  to  their  homes. 
An  automobile  was  sent  recently  to  take  me  to  Bakandeh,  about  twenty-five 
miles  out,  where  the  superintendent  of  the  road  had  been  badly  hurt  in  an  acci- 
dent, and  the  Russian  physician  wished  a consultation.  The  Russians  have  a 
large  colony  here,  and  we  have  found  them  very  friendly.” 


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Medical  Work  in  Persia. 


Teheran. — Hospitals  for  men  and  women  ; two  dispensaries. 

J.  G.  WisiiARD,  M.  D.,  Mary  J.  Smith,  M.  D.,  Miss  F.  M.  Bradford, 
nurse. 

Hamadan. — Lillie  Reed  Holt  Memorial  Hospital ; dispensary. 
J.  A.  Funk,  M.  D.,  Clara  H.  Field,  M.  D.,  Mrs.  F.  M.  Stead,  M.  D. 

Kasvin. — Dispensary  and  visiting. 

E.  T.  Lawrence,  M.  D.,  Mrs.  Lawrence,  M.  D. 

Resht. — Dispensary  and  visiting. 

J.  D.  Frame,  M.  D. 

Urumia. — Westminster  Hospital ; Howard  Annex  (women)  ; 
two  dispensaries. 

Harry'  P.  Packard,  M.  D.,  Emma  T.  Miller,  M.  D. 

Tabriz. — Wliiiiple  Hospital  (women)  ; two  dispensaries. 

W.  S.  Vanneman,  M.  D.,  Mary  Bradford,  M.  D. 


Price,  3 cents;  30  cents  a dozen. 


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